The position of senior student is not a privilege. It is a position of duty and responsibility and there are no guarantees of permanence since proper spirit, dedication and perseverance are required. If obvious negligence is perceived, another is chosen. The students whose seniority is revoked are expected to express their apologies for their lacks, offer thanks for the lesson received and try harder to recover the teacher's trust. It is always a hard lesson; a lesson in humility, dedication and right priorities, but an important and valuable lesson nonetheless. Great skills are not enough. Proper spirit and attitude provide a firmer foundation. This is not an obsolete concept. It appears to be an outdated system only to those reluctant to follow it due to lack of humility and self discipline. It has its roots in the uchideshi system, and truthfully, it helps to define those who are loyal to the ryu and those who are loyal to themselves, and has helped many teachers to choose worthy successors, which in the long run ensures the longevity, and the purity, of the ryu. It is a pleasure to watch the classes in a traditional dojo when the teacher is absent, because true respect and proper spirit are made manifest by an even greater discipline and stronger practice that veers away not even an inch from the directions left by the teacher and passed on by the senior students.